In the 1920s, the area now known as Carlsbad established itself as a player in an expanding industry: flowers. Rows of gladiolus, zinnia and ranunculus carpeted the rolling landscape; a network of suppliers supported the growers, and the region grew as well.
This, arguably, was Carlsbad's first industry cluster, and it helped plant the seeds of Carlsbad's future prosperity.
Today, Carlsbad's flower industry is remembered each spring when thousands flock to The Flower Fields, and Carlsbad has grown into a hub of new industry clusters.
The City of Carlsbad recently commissioned BW Research, a Carlsbad-based company, to conduct a business survey. The aim was to create a local business profile and assess the business climate in the city.
The study identified existing industry clusters in Carlsbad. Healthy industry clusters are vital to a community's economic well-being because they create wealth. Clusters are export-oriented, so they attract customers and revenue from outside Carlsbad. Most of the dollars they bring in are new dollars for our local economy.
Josh Williams, president of BW Research, also points out that for every job within a cluster, new ones pop up to support it. "They tend to have a multiplier effect," Williams said. "They can generate up to five jobs outside that cluster."
The survey identified five industry clusters in Carlsbad, which, Williams noted, is significant.
"Seldom do you see a city as small as Carlsbad with five healthy export-oriented industry clusters," said Williams. "That's a function of a few things, such as the types of firms, the quality of life we have here and company founders who located here."
The survey identified these five clusters and their contributions to Carlsbad's economy:
1. Action Sports Manufacturing: This cluster includes firms engaged in the design and production of golf clubs, surfboards, diving gear, other recreational goods, and apparel and accessories tied to those products. This cluster consists of approximately 47 firms that provide 2,773 jobs in Carlsbad, and workers in this cluster earn about $91,020 annually.
2. Life Sciences: This cluster includes firms involved in the research, design and production of medical devices, and firms involved in research and development related to biological technologies and the manufacture of medicines and diagnostic equipment. The Life Sciences cluster has approximately 131 firms providing 7,033 jobs in Carlsbad, and workers in this cluster earn about $128,722 annually.
3. Cleantech: This cluster includes firms engaged in renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy storage. The Cleantech cluster in Carlsbad has approximately 90 firms and 4,882 jobs. Workers in this cluster earn about $112,672 annually.
4. Entertainment & Hospitality. This includes hotels, transportation services, restaurants, entertainment attractions, such as LEGOLAND, golf courses and resorts. This cluster includes approximately 153 companies providing 11,941 jobs in Carlsbad, and workers in this cluster earn about $25,567 annually.
5. Information, Communications & Technologies: This cluster includes communications, computer and electronics, and software industries. This cluster has approximately 254 firms and 9,203 jobs in Carlsbad, and workers in this cluster earn about $114,561 annually.
The survey discovered that Carlsbad's five industry clusters account for approximately one in every seven businesses in Carlsbad, and provide just over 40 percent of all jobs in the city. "And with the exception of Entertainment and Hospitality, (these clusters) provide average annual earnings per worker that are just over one-third higher than the city's average," the survey says.
Williams notes that even though the entertainment and hospitality cluster has comparatively low wages, "it provides an opportunity for people to enter the workforce and develop the skills to go work in another field and apply those skills."
The clusters are also known for their innovation and ingenuity, and combined they have registered more than 1,000 patents. "Carlsbad has a relatively healthy number of startups and entrepreneurs, so there is a potential for growth," Williams said.
And the good news, Williams noted, is that with the possible exception of action sports manufacturing, all the clusters are expected to grow over the next three years.
Our strong industry clusters support Carlsbad's many small business, provide employment for residents and provide revenue to the city that is used to enhance Carlsbad's infrastructure and quality of life. An important part of the city's economic development program focuses on helping these companies succeed and grow in Carlsbad.
This, arguably, was Carlsbad's first industry cluster, and it helped plant the seeds of Carlsbad's future prosperity.
Today, Carlsbad's flower industry is remembered each spring when thousands flock to The Flower Fields, and Carlsbad has grown into a hub of new industry clusters.
The City of Carlsbad recently commissioned BW Research, a Carlsbad-based company, to conduct a business survey. The aim was to create a local business profile and assess the business climate in the city.
The study identified existing industry clusters in Carlsbad. Healthy industry clusters are vital to a community's economic well-being because they create wealth. Clusters are export-oriented, so they attract customers and revenue from outside Carlsbad. Most of the dollars they bring in are new dollars for our local economy.
Josh Williams, president of BW Research, also points out that for every job within a cluster, new ones pop up to support it. "They tend to have a multiplier effect," Williams said. "They can generate up to five jobs outside that cluster."
The survey identified five industry clusters in Carlsbad, which, Williams noted, is significant.
"Seldom do you see a city as small as Carlsbad with five healthy export-oriented industry clusters," said Williams. "That's a function of a few things, such as the types of firms, the quality of life we have here and company founders who located here."
The survey identified these five clusters and their contributions to Carlsbad's economy:
1. Action Sports Manufacturing: This cluster includes firms engaged in the design and production of golf clubs, surfboards, diving gear, other recreational goods, and apparel and accessories tied to those products. This cluster consists of approximately 47 firms that provide 2,773 jobs in Carlsbad, and workers in this cluster earn about $91,020 annually.
2. Life Sciences: This cluster includes firms involved in the research, design and production of medical devices, and firms involved in research and development related to biological technologies and the manufacture of medicines and diagnostic equipment. The Life Sciences cluster has approximately 131 firms providing 7,033 jobs in Carlsbad, and workers in this cluster earn about $128,722 annually.
3. Cleantech: This cluster includes firms engaged in renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy storage. The Cleantech cluster in Carlsbad has approximately 90 firms and 4,882 jobs. Workers in this cluster earn about $112,672 annually.
4. Entertainment & Hospitality. This includes hotels, transportation services, restaurants, entertainment attractions, such as LEGOLAND, golf courses and resorts. This cluster includes approximately 153 companies providing 11,941 jobs in Carlsbad, and workers in this cluster earn about $25,567 annually.
5. Information, Communications & Technologies: This cluster includes communications, computer and electronics, and software industries. This cluster has approximately 254 firms and 9,203 jobs in Carlsbad, and workers in this cluster earn about $114,561 annually.
The survey discovered that Carlsbad's five industry clusters account for approximately one in every seven businesses in Carlsbad, and provide just over 40 percent of all jobs in the city. "And with the exception of Entertainment and Hospitality, (these clusters) provide average annual earnings per worker that are just over one-third higher than the city's average," the survey says.
Williams notes that even though the entertainment and hospitality cluster has comparatively low wages, "it provides an opportunity for people to enter the workforce and develop the skills to go work in another field and apply those skills."
The clusters are also known for their innovation and ingenuity, and combined they have registered more than 1,000 patents. "Carlsbad has a relatively healthy number of startups and entrepreneurs, so there is a potential for growth," Williams said.
And the good news, Williams noted, is that with the possible exception of action sports manufacturing, all the clusters are expected to grow over the next three years.
Our strong industry clusters support Carlsbad's many small business, provide employment for residents and provide revenue to the city that is used to enhance Carlsbad's infrastructure and quality of life. An important part of the city's economic development program focuses on helping these companies succeed and grow in Carlsbad.